Timing mechanism



sept. 12, 1933. T C; FORBE'S 1,926,276

TIMING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1927 5 sheets-sheet 1 T TOE/vs Yr T. c. FORBES ,926,2 7

TIMING MECHANI SM Sept. i2, 1933.

Filed Dec. 14, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. C FORBES TIMING MECHANISM Sept. 12, 1933.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14, 1927 fnl/emga? 7kg/m45 C. FQEBES 5 @y #me Filed DeG. 14, 1927 5 Sheets-SheerI 4 r fill;

T- C- F CREES 5W@ ma) 393mg TIMING MECHANISM Filed Dec.

Patented Sept. l2, 1933 PATENT OFI-ica 1.92am 'rlmNG MEcnANlsM Thomas C. Forbes, Hopkins, Minn., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Waters Genter Com- Minnesota pany, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Application December 14, 1927 Serial No. 239,980 17 claims. (01.'161-16) 'This invention relates to improvements in timing mechanisms, as well as the application of the timing mechanism to the operation of a toaster.

Objects of the invention are to provide what may be called a centrifugal clock, with means for giving the timing elements of the clock an initial rotative velocity, or initial speed; to provide means to engage and spin or rotate the timing mechanism and thereafter permit its free rotation and gradually decreasing velocity; to provide means movable as the result of decreasing velocity to act as a trip, and to provide means engageable by the trip for operating some other mechanism to release it or lock it, or to release -it at one time and lock it at another; to provide means engageable by the trip to perform the above mentioned operation so that said means can be adjusted to obtain a tripping or release when any' predetermined reduction in speed of rotation has been reached by the rotating element; to arrange the timing element in a toaster and to connect it with some .element of the toaster which assists in the toasting operation, so that the rotating element is spun when this assisting element is brought to operating position, or so that the assisting element is moved in a certain manner when the timer is spun; to use the tripping element as a means to lock the assisting element in some predetermined position and then to release it at the end of the timing period and as the result of sufficiently decreased velocity of the rotating body; to connect the spinning element to'move or be moved by the assisting element; to arrange the spinner means and connect it with the assisting element to obtain spinning action as said element moves to assist in the toasting operation; to provide latch means adapted to secure the assisting element against movement while the velocity of the timer is decreasing; to provide means movable asthe result of decreased velocity and engageable with the latch to release the assisting element when the velocity has sufficiently decreased; andto provide means for adjusting the latch to vary the tripping or timing interval. f'

Features of the invention include all the destruction'of vthe pivots per se along ywith means for .detachably securing certain mica plates of the heater elements.

Objects, features and advantages will be set forth in the description of the drawings forming 50 Y a part of. this application, and in said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan section substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 8, showing the position of the mechanism when the chamber-forming elements are open;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view with the bottom closure plate removed and showing the mechat. nism is a position corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan section generally similar to Figure 1 but showing the mechanism as posi- 70 tioned during the toasting operation with the chamber-forming elements closed, and the timer operating;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Figure 3 and, therefore, showing the positions of the timer elements when rotating;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan corresponding to Figure 3 showing the latch mechanism in locking position, and disposed to be released at the end of the tim'ing period; 89

Figure 6 is a detailed vertical section on line 6-6 of Figure 5 showing the construction of the latch;

Figure 'l is a vertical section takensubstantially on line '1-7 of Figure 2 and further illustrating the construction and mounting of the timer;

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section substantially on line 8-8 of Figure 1; y

' Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section substantially on line 9-9 of Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detailed section substantially on line 10-10 of Figure 1';

Figure 11 isa detail vertical section on line 11--11 of Figure l0; f

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic top plan view showing the arrangement of the circuit with reference to the shafts for the chamber-forming elements,A and heating elements carried by the chamber-forming elements;

Figure 13 shows perspective views of parts ofcertain portions ofthe adjustable latching mechanism; and l y Figure 14 is a detail transverse section on line 14-14 of Figure 5, further illustrating the latch construction.

vThe improved timing device has been shown applied to a type of toaster in which a pair of elements are swingable toward one anothervand cooperate to form 'a toasting chamber, each ele- 110 ment having a heating means therein. In this type of toaster, a bread holding element is provided which is adapted to be'enclosed when .the`V chamber-forming elements are brought together. 5 The main feature of the invention, however. relates first to th'e timing device. 'and then to its application for operating an element which is movable to assist in a toasting operation, whether that element be similar or not similar in construction to the element shown herein. The toaster has a hollow base 1 within and t below the upper surface of, which are arranged the clock mechanism and leaf-pivoting elements, along with certain other elements later to be described. The leaf-pivoting elements are arranged in adjacently disposed parallel pairs at opposite ends all axes extending longitudinally of the base, asbest shown in Figure 2. There :are four pivoting elements used, which are indicated by the numeral 3. .These elements are in the nature of stub shafts, suitably supported. Rotatable upon each member of longitudinally aligned pairs of pivoting elements, is an extension 4 of a corresponding chamber-forming ele- `sus ment 5, see Figure 8. Each of these extensions. in this instance, has attached thereto a gear 6 and these gears are meshed in pairs at opposite ends of the base so that the chamber-forming elements 5 will move in unison and at equal so speed. The elements 5.open by gravity and opening movement is limited by portions8 which engage the base 1 as stops. -The elements 5 are formed of sheet metal. and each has a heating element therein composed of mica bases 10 havas ing windings substantially as shown in Figures 10 and 12. Two mica bases 10 are connected at their tops by a metal strip. and this metal strip is held against movement between lugs, 11 while the lower end is connected as best shown in Figure 11. This lower connection will be described in detail and forms a feature of this invention. Springs 13 act as cushion means to prevent Jarring as the elements open by gravity. Suitable thumb means, not shown, are provided for closing the elements 5 manually, that is bringing them to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8.

Arranged between the elements, and shown herein in dotted lines,is a toast supporting rack so 15, which, see Figure 8, is enclosed by the elements 5 when they are in chamber-forming position. The base of` the rack covers and protects certain portions of the operatingmechanism. Mounted centrally of the base l is a timer, which comprises in part the plate-like elementebo, see

Figure 7, having pairs of anguiarly related downwardly extended portions respectively 21-22. This plate is supported for horizontal rotation by the vertical `shaft 27 stepped in suitable bearingsI 28. One bearing 28 is carried by a bottom plate l 23 which plate is secured by screws to posts 24, see Figure 2. The ,upper bearing is supported by a bridge element 25 arranged across an opening 28 in the top of the base l. The plate 20 is thus 05 mounted for free rotation, after spinning b y mechanism later to be described.

Referring first to Figure 2, the element 20 is provided -with members 30 arranged to be cen- Itrifugally movable, and possessingvconsiderable weight and being symmetrically arranged to form arcs of the same circle, when thrown to their limits by centrifugal force. Each memberls pivoted asat 31 to a bent portion 22, and the outer end of element 30 is provided with a stop 33 76 which. in this instance, loosely traverses a slot 34,

see Figure 9. The elements 30 form arcs of a circle having the axis of the shaft 27 asia center, and as -shown in Figure 4 are adapted to swing outwardly to a position limited by stops ,33 to form a kind of ywheel. The elements 30, as before mentioned, have considerable weight. and therefore will have considerable momentum. This, to obtain that continued free` rotation, sufficient to provide a timing period of the desired length. Means yieldably holding the members 30 against centrifugal movement is provided, and this means in the` present instance comprises a rock arm 36 pivoted as at 37 to the plate 20. Pivvitally connected with respective arms of this le are links 38-39 in turn respectively pivoted as at 40 to a centrifugal member 30. The element 38 is connected by yieldable means 42,. such as a spring, the spring tending to hold the arms in the position shown in Figure 2 and. therefore. acting against centrifugal movement of the elements 30. The extensions 21 form stops for the ends of elements 30 against the action of the spring 42. the spring acting to force the elements 30 against the stops. 'I'he arrangement of the elements 36, 38 and 39 is such that a single spring may be used to counteract the centrifugal `movement of both members 30.

Means is provided movable as the result of decreasing speed of the spun timing element, to v cause tripping of a device which acts to latch the chamber-forming elements in chamber-forming position. That portion of this means which is movable afterthe speed of rotation has been reduced in a predetermined degree is herein shown as an arm 41 connected to one of the arms 30 110 and `arranged radially with respect to the pivotal point 31, and elongated to have its outer upturned end swing through an arc which is substantially radial to the axis of rotation of the timer, that 1s to the shaft 2v. Referring first 115 ure 2 is made as the result of gradually decreasing 125 velocity of the timer. Inasmuch as the timer is rotating, and inasmuch as the element 43 will gradually travel outwardly as the speed of rotation gradually decreases, this element mayA ber`- used as a trip, operable with another element 13 which controls the locking together of the chamber-forming elements during a toasting operation, to release those elements at any time before the timer element comes to rest or at any speed of rotation. This -provides means whereby the l toasting interval may be varied. and, therefore, whereby the clock device can be made to operate a longer or shorter time. The latching device with'which this projection 43 is engageable is most clearly shown in Figure 5, and the engaging 14 relation of the projection 43 is shown in Figure i.' 'I'he detailed construction of the latching device will be described later.

Attached to the shaft 27, see Figures 7 and 9. isa gear 44 which lies above the upper surface 5 of the base 1 and is protectingly housed beneath the bridging member 25. It will be noted that the base portion 16 of the toast-supporting element 15 bridges the element 25, and that element 15o 16 extends the full length longitudinally of the toast chamber to cover the mechanism substantially as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 to prevent crumbs dropping into the mechanism.

The elements 21 in addition to forming stops act as vanes to retard rotative motion of the timing element, and these vanes rotate in opposition to air intakeopenings of the plate 23, see Figure 9, these openings `permitting a circulationoi air into the chamber closed by the element 23.

Means is provided to engage and spin the element and thereafter to permit free rotation of the same. These means may be called a spinner, and act to spin the timer givingl it a predetermined initial velocity. The timing device may be considered as a centrifugal clock which is given a predetermined initial speed, and in which the clock element is free to diminish its speed at a constant rate thereafter. In this device we are measuring the time which it takes for the speed of the device to diminish from an initial speed, to a predetermined tripping speed. The 'spinner herein comprises a construction best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. An arm 50, see Figure i, is pivoted as at 51 to the base and is provided with gear teeth 52 which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of the gear 44. This arm lis arranged to swing to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the swinging motion to this position taking place as the chamber-forming elements are swung toward one another to form the chamber. The initial position when the chamber-forming elements are open is shown in Figure 1, and a stop 55 o1' the element 50 engages a buffer spring 56, the element 50 being yieldably retracted and held against the buifer spring by coil spring 57, which also acts to furnish the spinning force for the arm. This arm 50 is further provided with a latch 58A pivoted at in this instance to swing in direction of the arrow to permit a latching movement. A spring 61 urges the latch 58 to cause a stop 62 thereof to engage the edge of the arm 50, and position the detent portion 63 for locking, as shown in Figure 1, in which it is engaged with the outer end 65 of an operating lever 66 pivoted at 51. Therefore, arms 50 and 66 are pivoted co-axially. At the opposite side of its pivot, lever 66 has an arm 67 which lies between the forks 68, see Figure 8, of a lever 70 which is connected to move with one of the chamber-forming elements 5. Thus means is provided operable to engage and spin the disk and, thereafter, permit diminished momentum of the disk, this spinning means being operable as the result of movement of a chamber-forming element to chamberforming position. It will be clear that when the chamber-forming elements are brought together, arm 70 will move to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 and will correspondingly cause extensions 67 ofthe arm 66 to swing to that positionshown in full lines in Figure 3, which is a position at which the arm 50 is released for its spinner movement, during which it reversely swings to its position shown Iin full lines in Figures 1 and 3. In order to obtain this release automatically, a portion 71 of the latch element 58 engages a the pivot for an adjusting element later to be described. As shown in Figure 3 in dotted lines, the element 58 is in releasing position against the stud 72 and the detent portion 63 is in release position. Therefore, the element 50 is shown as released to permit its spinning motion in direction of the dotted arrow. It will be" unstud 72, which stud forms derstood therefore. that when the leaves` are brought from a position shown in Figure 8, in full lines, to the closed position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, and after this motion and during the period when the chamber-forming elements are in the dotted line position, the element 66 will remain in the position shown in Figure 3, and the element 50 will remain in the position shown in the same figure. On the other hand, when the leaves are open as shown in full line position in Figure 8, or as the leaves are open, and when they reach this open position the arm 66 will assume the position shown in Figure 1, with its outer end 65 engaged and held by the detent portion 63 of the latch 68. In this position, therefore, the arm 66 is conditioned to draw the element 50 in the direction oi the arrow, when the leaves are brought to chamber-forming position. The release of the element 50 from the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 takes place automatically substantially immediately as the chamber-forming elements reach chama ber-forming position.

The latching means, before referred to, and which is engageable by the element 43 of the timer, comprises in this instance, see Figures 5 and 13,- an arm 75 pivoted as at 76 and having an extension 77 radial to its pivot. The outer end of this extension 77 is engageable with a companion extension 78 movable with one of the chamber-forming elements. This engagement is made as shown in Figures 3 and 5 only when the chamber-forming elements are forming the chamber, the function of the element 77 being to lock the chamber-forming elements in closed` 110 position during the timing period. This latch is therefore only releasable at the end of the timing period. The unlatching or releasing position of the element 75 is shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. The finger piece 80 is forthe purpose 115 of permitting release of the leaves at any time independently of the timer. This extension 80 therefore projects sufiicientiy to be operated at a point outside the chamber. The spring 79 engages the arm 70 to force the element 75 in this 120 instance in clockwise direction against a stop 73 to dispose its outer end in proper relation to the projection 43, of the timer.

In order to vary the period for releasing thc latch 75 in conformity to the positions ofthe element 43, the latch has a slidable extension 81 best shown in perspective in Figure 13. This extension is adjustable longitudinally of the element 75 and has an end portion notched as indicated at 82 adapted .to be projected into the rotative path of this element 43. As shown in Figure 5, the slide 81 is positioned so that its notched end 82 will, as the element 43 travels outwardly, be engaged by that element and tripped or thrown to the position shown in dotted lines in the figure. 'I'his dotted line position shows that the element 43 has by its rotative movement been disengaged from the notched portion 82 as the rotating clock element traveled in the direction oi' the arrow. To mount the element 81 upon the element'75 so that' it will slide longitudinally of the element, a slot 86 is provided with which the forward end 87 of the element 75 engages. The rear end 88 of the element 81 is raised asis most clearly indicated in Figure 13, and this raised portion is 110 slotted as shown at 89 to receive a pin 90 of the element 75 which pin limits the retracting movement of the sliding element 81 in a direction toward the pivot of the element 75. The portion 88 has lateral. extensions 94 which rest upon the 1*'3 upper surface of the base 1 and these arms together with the under surface of the forward part of the element 81 slidably support the element 81. A bracket 83 prevents upward movement of the element 81; but permits its free sliding movement.

The element 43 may be considered as a means movable as the result of decreased momentum of the spun element, and the elements 81, 75 and 78 may be considered the latch means adapted to secure an element movable to assist in the toasting operation, against movement while the timer velocity is decreasing, and engageable by the last mentioned means to release the movable element when the velocity has sufficiently decreased.

In order to slidably adjust the element 81 substantially in a direction radial to the rotative axes 27 of the timer, and to hold this element in adjusted position the following means is provided: A bellcrank lever 83, see Figure 5, is pivoted as at 72 on the top of the base 1. One arm of this bellcrank lever is pivotally connected by a link 87 with the arm 94 of the slide element 81. The opposite arm of the bell crank 83 is connected as at 91 to a short arm or tooth 92 rotatable with shaft 93 which -shaft projects beneath the base 1 and is held rotatably in a suitable bearing carried by the base.` At the opposite or lower end of this shaft is secured a lever 95 which has a thumb piece 96 which projects through a slot 97 in the vertical wall of the base. The margin of this slot is toothed as at 98 and the element 95 may be sprung in a vertical direction to allow the thin vertical portion 96 to engage the teeth. This construction permits the lever to be adjusted and then secured against movement. A spring 99 tends to swing the bellcrank lever in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 5, and therefore to translatethe element 81 to-` ward the stop 90.

In order that the teeth of the element 44 may always be positioned to be engaged by the teeth 52, means is provided to engage the teeth 441 at vthe end of the timing period to dispose the teeth always in a predetermined relation to that tooth of the arm 50 which lies nearest the teeth of the gear 44, see Figure 1. To this end a lever 100 is employed, and this lever is pivoted as at 101 to the base. One end carries a roller 102 which engages between any two adjacent teeth of the gear 44 as shown in Figure 1. The opposite end of the lever is arranged to be engaged by a portion of one of the chamber-forming elements or by a device mounted thereon so that when the leaf 5 moves to open position, the lever 100 is engaged, for example, as at 105, and is moved to throw theroller to the position shown, against the action of the spring 106. VAs the chamberforming elements move to chamber-forming position, see Figure 3, lever 100 is released and the spring 106 withdraws the roller 102, to permit free rotation of the timer. This may be considered means for disposing an element of the timer in predetermined relation to the spinner means.

General operation If a predetermined toasting interval is desired, the lever 96 is first adjusted to dispose the portion 82 of the tripping means in proper relation to the movable tripping element 43 of the timer. If the toaster chambers have been closed and locked after a previous use, the finger piece is then operated to release and allow the chamber-forming elements to open. As these leaves open, the element 66 moves from its position in Figure 3 to that shown in Figure 1 and engages with the latch 58, thus conditioning the spinning apparatus, including the element 50, to move to timer engaging and spinning position, as the leaves are closed. After'the leaves are closed, the latch 58 is caused to release the spinner member 50, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3,-and immediately after this release the element 50 moves under tension ofthe spring 57 to the position also shown in Figure 3 which results in the spinning of the timer, that is inI giving it its predetermined initial velocity. It will be noted that there is nothing to interferewith the free rotation of the timer. It will be understood that the closing movement of the chamber-forming elements has resulted in the retraction of the roller 102, andthis retraction is maintained as long as the leaves 5 are closed, or during, in any event, the timing period. The timer now is operating freely under its own momentum, and its speed is gradually decreasing. As the result of this speed-decrease, the element 43 travels outwardly from'its position shown in Figure 3, until its rotative path intercepts the projection 82. The result is shown in Figure 5 in dotted lines, to-wit the movement of the latch arm 77 to release latch arm 78v and allow the leaves to fall to open position shown in Figure 8, against the action of the cushioning springs 13. This final position of the parts is best shown in Figure 1.

The invention thus provides a clock device as a kind of flywheel, which is adapted to be given initial velocity and then released to spin freely under its own momentum. As applied, the element is given an initial speed of rotation as the result of the closing of the leaves of the toaster, or as result of movement of some member which assists in the toasting operation, the arrangement being such that the centrifugal timing means controls the assisting element so that some operation can be performed at the end of the timing period to stop the toasting operation. The timing device must be perfectly free to spin in a manner to allow a gradual and regular decrease in velocity. That period between the initial velocity and a state of rest includes the measure of the timing interval, which interval is obtained as the result of a constant rate of diminishing speed. In other words, the device measures the time it takes for the device to slow down to a predetermined speed (tripping point). It will be noted that the means for giving the initial velocity to the centrifugal device or timer is also a predetermined factor. It will be further noted that braking means such as the Wings or plates 21 are also a factor in determining the time necessary for the device to slow down sufliciently to perform its tripping function. In other words, the timer is given a whirl and then allowed to die down, and the time of dying down is the time measure. Other forms of means can be employed to vary the dying down" period.

It will be understood that the spring 57 has some predetermined tension so that the force of the stroke used to give initial velocity to the timer can be controlled. As before stated, the timer is given a sufficient initial velocity to cause the weighted arms to fly outwardly against the stops and remain against the stop to allow the device to revolve as a solid flywheel, for example, one minute. If desired after a few seconds, during which the centrifugal forcev is reduced due to reduced velocity, the springs begin-to act counter to centrifugal force and draw the weighted arms inwardly. The period ol' this drawing inwardly to some predetermined point is the easure oi the time interval desired. It will be'understood that the fan blades 21 not only provide stops, but utilize air resistance as a means for controlling the slowing up period or the gradually diminishing speed of rotation of the device. It will be understood that the initial whirl gives a centrifugal force in excess, so that for a while there is no inward movement oi' the weighted elements, and. therefore, the timer rotates as a wheel, or as a ilywheel.

Another feature of the invention .relates to the construction for arranging of the leaves. or toaster elements 5 and lto the manner of electrically connecting the heating elements across the pivots of these leaves, -in this instance to obtain a series relation of the elements, in the power line. The detailed construction of the pivoting means for the chamber-forming elements, best shown in Fig. 10, and the general arrangement of these elements is best shown in. Figure 2, while the general circuit relation is shown in the diagram in Figure 12.

Referring first to Figure 2, the conductors are passed through an insulating bushing 110. One of the conductors 111 is disposed substantially as shown in Figure 2, and is suitably connected with a binding post 112 insulated from the metal part of the machine by element 113. This binding post 112 forms one contact element of a switch which is engageable by a companion contact element 114 carried yby a lever 115 pivoted at 116 to a metallic strip-like element 117 secured to the insulation 113, as at 118. Thev free end of the element 117 is traversed by one of the shafts 3 or pivotal elements of one of the meinbers 5. The `switch arm 115 is operable by a lever 120 pivoted at 121 and connected by a spring 122 with the lever 115. As shown in Figure 2, when the lever 120 travels in clockwise direction the switch is open as the result of the lever passing across a line connecting the pivotal points 116 and 1121. The element 125 formsa stop for the lever 15 to limit the lever in the open position The connections by which current is carried across the pivotal points of the chamber-forming members are substantially the saine for each pivotal point and the internal arrangement is best shown in Figure 10, which figure, however, does not show the element 117 but shows the metallic connector element 150 at vtheopposite side, see Figure 2. Each element 117 and 150 is traversed by and supported upon an insulating sleeve 126, and upon each insulator is slidable a pair of insulating washers 127 pressed against respective elements 117,159, by a coil spring 128. The ends 'oi' the shafts 3 are connected by a cross element 129 against-which the opposite ends of the springs abut. Thus the springs are held under tension between the elements 129 andv one of the washers 127 and the stub shafts are held against axial` movement by set ments 117 and in the loop 130 of an insulated wire, see Figure 1, which wire traverses a tubular casing 131 attached to the end wall of a chamber-forming member. The insulated wire then passes through another short tubular member 133, se'e Figure l0, arranged at-right angles to the element 131. There are four pairs of these tubular elements, one pair for each end wall of each chamberforming element. The insulated wire then passes to a binding post 161 the construction of screws 7. Between the eleelectrical contact therewith is- ,ysa

which is best shown in Figure 11. This binding post is a feature of the invention and also acts as means for removably attaching the-heating elements 10. There are four attaching means of this type used in the present case, and the construction will be set forth in detail. 'I'he base of the heating element 10 is formed of mica and has a ribbon-like heating element 152 coiled or wrapped thereabout. The arrangement is best shownin Figure 10, but forms no part of the present invention. In this instance, in each chamber-forming element, there are two of these mica pieces 10. The circuit can be traced as shown across the bottom oi' Figure 12, through the heating elements. binding posts 161. thence to wire 154, the end of which is arranged about one of the insulators 126, and in contact with the metal connector 155 bridging the two pivots 3 at the right in Figure 2. 'I'he pivoting construction is here substantially identical as that shown in the opposite side of the figure, except that the connector member 155 is used. The shafts 3 are here supported by a bracket 129, between which and the washers 127, the terminals of the insulated wires are held. An insulated wire 156 is connected at the opposite end of element 155 and passes through the tubular elements 131-133 to the' corresponding binding post 161. Then'ce current is carried across the mica plates to conductor 150.l

The construction of the combined binding post and heating element securing means is best illustrated in Figure 11. 'I'he lower end of the heating element is provided wit an eye v160 through which is engaged a threaded projection or post 161 oi' a button having its head 162 surrounded or enclosed by mica 163 or equivalent insulating material. As at present made, this mica is .ar-

ranged in sheets to encase the button, and a metallic clip 164 secures the mica and the button to a threaded element 165. This element 165 is in threaded connection with a shank of a screw 166. 'I'his screw extends through the outer wall of the chamber-forming element 5 and secures and supports the whole combination. A spacer 167 is arranged between the wall of the chamberforming element and the element 165. One terminal of the heating element or ribbon 152 is inserted as at 170 between the portions which form the eye 160. A loop of the insulated conductor is indicated at 171, and it encircles the projection 161, and is held between insulating disks 172 of mica and the face of the eye 160. A 'washer 173 is, however, interposed betweenthe mica plates as shown and the nut 174 acts to secure and bind the terminal 171 and element 10 in circuit making position.

The invention, although shown applied to that type of toaster in which chamber-forming elements are brought together toenclose a toast support, can be applied to' any element of any type ofutoaster, which element moves to assist or control the toasting operation in any way. For this reason the claims include broadly an element movable to assist in toasting operation. All that is necessary is that some spinning means be provided whereby the timer may be given an initial rotative velocity, and additional means provided whereby the spun element can operate -a connection 'of some sort to act upon or change the position of some portion of a toaster so that its toasting function will cease at the end of a predetermined timed period. It is not intended, therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific varrangement of the spinner element for operation with or by leaves as they are brought together, nor is it meant to limit the invention to the specific means operable to unlatch or release chamberforming elements like those illustrated therein. It is further conceivable that the spinner member may be hand-operated, and that some connection can be supplied which is operable by the spun element at the end of a predetermined time to control Aor release some part, of any type of toaster, to discontinue the toasting operation. Moreover, it is not intended to limit the invention to its application to a toaster, although the details of construction are also claimed as applied to a toaster.

Under' certain conditions momentary disengagement or unlatching of elements 77-78 may take place, because of premature engagement of the element 43 with the element 81, due to the spinning of the element which takes place substantially when the leaves or assisting elements reach assisting position. However, the action of the device is so rapid that although tripping may take place immediately following closure of the leaves, movement of the parts 77-88 away from and back to latching position is substantially instantaneous, and unlatching and relatching always takes place before the operator releases the assisting element 5. After the elements 5 have reached the position shown in Figure 3, that is when they have been brought to toasting or cooking position, the arm 50 is released and moves in a fraction of a second to the position shown in full lines, through the action of the relatively powerful spring 57 thus initiating timer action, and immediately,` retracting `the trip projection 43 so that it will never engage the projection 82 of the extension 81 after the leaves 5 are released by the operator. Assuming that the trip 43 does engage this projection v82, the extension 77 will then be moved away from the extension 78 (in opposition to strong spring "19) to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, momentarily unlatching the elements 5. However, return or relatching of element 77, under action ofr spring 79, takes place instantaneously,

and always before the elements 5 are released by the hand.

Another valuable feature of the invention is the provision of a timing mechanism in which the operation of timing is initiated by the movement of that element which assists holding or holds the article to be cooked, or toasted, in cooking or toasting position. In addition, the idea of initiating the operation of the timing device by movement of the assisting element, along with means for latching the assisting element in cooking or toasting position, and with thearrangement such that these elements are released by a timerinitiated unlatching operation at the end of the cooking period, and by means of some movable portion of the timer, is also a valuable feature.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement of the timing mechanism, and means for controlling its operation by means of an element that assists in holding the article to be cooked in cooking position, below the cooking means and assisting element, and partly inside of and substantially all within the confines of a hollow base member. Heretofore these elements have been arranged laterally of the toaster and in various unsightly locations. In the present instance, substantially every operating part of the timer and means controlling and controlled by it, are arranged within the base or directly on -top of the base and beneath and hidden by the cooking and food-controlling elements' or means.

I claim as my invention:

l. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means operable by the assisting member to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation, tripping means movable as the result of movement of the centrifugally movable members, and additional means engageable by the tripping means and adapted to move the assisting member.

2. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation and gradual decreasing velocity, tripping means movable as the result of movement of the centrifugally movable members, and additional means engageable by the trip- A ping means arranged to hold the assistingmember at assisting position during the spinning operation, and to withdraw said member after the velocity of the spun element has sufficiently decreased.

3. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement,'means to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation and gradual decreasing velocity, tripping means movable as the result of decreasing velocity of the spun element, and additional means engageable by the tripping means arranged to hold the assisting member during a timing operation and to release it when the spun element has reached a predetermined velocity.

`4. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation, means movable as the result of decreased velocity of the spun element, and latch means adapted to secure the assisting element in toasting-assisting position whilethe velocity is decreasing, and engageable by said last mentioned means, to release said element when the velocity has sufliciently decreased.

5. A toaster including an element movable Ato assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation and gradually decreasing velocity, said spinner means being connected with said toaster element, to obtain spinning action as said element moves to assist in the toasting operation.

6. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means vyieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation and gradually decreasing velocity, a portion of said spinner means being connected with said toaster element tol obtain spinning action as said element moves to assist in the toasting operation, means movable as the result of decreased velocity of the spun element, and latch means adapted to secure said toaster element against movement to assist in toasting while the velocity is decreasing and engageable by said last mentioned means to release said toaster element when the velocity has suillciently decreased.

7. A bread toaster including a pair of elements swingable toward one another and cooperative to form a chamber, each element having a heating means therein, means between )the elements for holding bread adapted to be enclosed when the elements are broughtjogether to form a chamber, a disk rotatably mounted at a point outside the chamber and having members adapted to move by centrifugal force, means tending to yieldably hold the members against movement when the disk is rotated, means operable to engage and spin the disk and thereafter to permit diminishing velocity, said spinning means being operable as the result of the movement of said chamber-forming elements to chamberforming position, and means movable by the centrifugal members and connected to latch the chamber-forming elements in vchamber-forming position, and to release them, at the'end of the timing period.

8. A timing device, comprising an elementrotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding said members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and spin said element and thereafter permit free rotation as a flywheel and gradually decreasing velocity, a trip movable as. the result of movement of the centrifugal members as the velocity decreases, means engageable by the trip during thevelocity reduction period, said means being adjustable to vary the tripping interval and therefore the timing interval.

9. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members oentrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and `spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation under its own momentum, said spinning means being connected with and movable by said toaster element to obtain a spinning action as the toaster element is moved to toasting position, and trip means connecting with said toaster member and adapted to be moved as the result of reduction in momentum of the spinning element, to cause said toaster element to move away from that position in which it assists in the toasting operation.

10. A bread toaster including a pair of elements swingable toward one another and cooperative to form a toasting chamber, means between the elements for holding bread and adapted to be-enclosed when the elements are brought together, an'element'rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members against centrifugal movement, means to engage and spin the element and thereafter permit free rotation and gradually decreasing momentum, said spinner means being connected to be operated by the chamber-forming elements to obtain a spin ning action as said elements move to closing position, .means movable as the result of decreased momentum of the spun element, and latch means adapted to secure the chamber-forming elements against centrifugal movement, means to spin the v a spinnable portion,

in chamber-forming position while the momentum is decreasing, and engageable by said last mentioned means to release said chamber-forming elements when the momentum has sufficiently decreased.

11. A toaster including an element movable to assist in a toasting operation, an element rotatably mounted and having members centrifugally movable, means yieldably holding the members element including an element movable to en. gage and rotate and then release said element to permit its free rotation, and an auxiliary element capable of latched engagement with the last mentioned element, this element being connected with the toaster element to obtain a spinning movement of its companion element as the toaster element moves to assist in toasting, the arrangement being such that after the toaster element has reached toasting position the spinning element is released to accomplish a spinning movement, and the arrangement further being such that as the toaster element leaves toasting position, the spinner operating element is again' releasably latched with the spinner element, and

, means to hold the centrifugal element against rotation before the toaster element moves to toasting position, and further adapted to release the spinner element to be spun when the toaster element moves to toasting position.

12. A cooking -device including a hollow base, a heater, and an element movable with reference to the heater to assist in a cooking operation, said heater and assisting element being arranged above the base, timer means and means operable as the result of movement of the assisting element to initiate timer means operation, the last mentioned means being arranged substantially wholly within the confines of the base and upon the base and beneath said heater and assisting element.

13. A cooker including an element movable to assist in a cooking operation, timer means having means operable by said assisting member for spinning said portion, and thereafter permitting means operable when the speed of rotation of said spinnable portion has decreased to a predetermined minimum, for automatically moving said assisting member away from assisting position.

14. A cooker including an element movable to assist in a cooking operation, timer means having a spinnable portion, means operable by said member for spinningsaid portion and thereafter permitting free rotation thereof, means operable when the speed oi' rotation of said spinnable por- 130 tion` has decreased to a predetermined minimum for automatically moving said assisting member away from assisting position, and means by which the speed at which said last mentioned operation takes place can be varied. 1 f

15. A cooker including an element movable to assist in a cooking operation, a flywheel, means operable by said assisting member for causing the flywheel to spin and thereafter freely rotate, and means operable when the speed of rotation of said flywheel reaches a predetermined minimum, for` automatically moving said assisting member away from assisting position.

16. A cooker including two elements movable toward one another to assist in cooking operation, a flywheel, means operable by at least one of said assisting members for spinning the flywheel as the elements are moved to cooking position and thereafter permitting free flywheel rotation, and means controlled by the flywheel and adapted to free rotation thereof, and 120 after permitting free ywheel rotation and means controlled by the ywheel and adapted to move said members away from cooking position when the speed of rotation of the iiywheel is decreased to a predetermined minimum, and means by which the speed at which said last mentioned operation takes place can be varied.

y THOMAS C. FORBES. 

